U.S. President Donald Trump stated that negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war are in their final stage. He made the remarks after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, according to Anadolu Agency. Trump said the discussions could either conclude soon or continue for a long time with heavy casualties if unresolved.

Trump reiterated his claim of having ended eight wars during his presidency and described the Russia-Ukraine conflict as the most difficult one yet. He emphasized that both presidents are willing to reach an agreement and that his goal is to end the war rather than set a specific timeline. Following his meeting with Zelensky, Trump plans to call Russian President Vladimir Putin to continue the dialogue.

He added that a strong security agreement is being considered, with European countries expected to play a key role in the security framework.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are cautiously working to overcome deep differences regarding the banned militant group Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Recent developments suggest both sides are reducing public criticism to create a more positive environment for dialogue, though major progress remains elusive. Islamabad insists Afghan soil must not be used for attacks inside Pakistan, and discreet diplomatic efforts have reportedly yielded limited progress.

Mediators have encouraged both governments to tone down public rhetoric and focus on constructive engagement. Afghan religious leaders recently issued a fatwa prohibiting cross-border attacks, which Pakistan welcomed as a confidence-building measure. Soon after, Afghan Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani assured that Afghan territory would not be used against any country. Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar praised Haqqani’s remarks and emphasized dialogue over confrontation.

Despite multiple rounds of talks, progress remains limited. Pakistan continues to link improved relations to concrete action against TTP, while Kabul maintains it does not allow its territory to be used for attacks. Islamabad has indicated it expects visible change within two to four weeks before reassessing its approach.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit the party’s central office in Naya Paltan on Monday. Party sources said he will leave his Gulshan residence at noon and head directly to the central office. The visit is part of his review of political programs and organizational matters, according to those involved.

This marks his first appearance at the central office since returning to the country after a long period of exile. Party leaders and activists have shown heightened interest surrounding his visit. Security measures have been strengthened in the Naya Paltan area ahead of his arrival, with RAB’s dog squad conducting sweeping operations in and around the office premises.

On Sunday, a day before the planned visit, Tarique Rahman worked for the first time at the BNP Chairperson’s political office in Gulshan following his return to Bangladesh.

A group of miscreants attacked a human chain organized by traders in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar on Monday around 11:30 a.m. The traders had gathered to protest extortion in the area. The incident led to repeated chases and counter-chases between the attackers and participants, leaving several traders injured, according to reports.

The traders alleged that expelled Tejgaon Thana Jubo Dal general secretary Abdur Rahman and his followers had been extorting money from businesses in Karwan Bazar for a long time. They organized the human chain to demand an end to the extortion and the arrest of Abdur Rahman. During the peaceful demonstration, the attackers reportedly assaulted the participants.

The report did not specify the number of injured or whether any arrests were made following the attack.

The nomination paper of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has been submitted for the Feni-1 constituency. The submission took place on Monday, when her election coordinator, Rafiqul Alam Majnu, who also serves as the convener of Dhaka South BNP, handed over the documents to the district returning officer and Deputy Commissioner Monira Haque, accompanied by party leaders.

As Khaleda Zia is currently undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital, Rafiqul Alam Majnu also filed a nomination as an alternative candidate. He stated that although he submitted the nomination following the party’s decision, he would continue to work on behalf of Begum Khaleda Zia.

The submission marks BNP’s formal step in the electoral process for Feni-1, with the party maintaining its leadership’s involvement despite Khaleda Zia’s medical condition.

Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Kashem Arman, the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for the Dhaka-14 constituency, submitted his nomination papers on Monday at the office of the Returning Officer located in the Dhaka Divisional Commissioner’s premises. The submission marks his formal entry into the upcoming parliamentary race for the seat.

During the submission, Barrister Arman stated that he was freed because people had united during the July movement, setting aside divisions. He described the current campaign as a struggle against corruption, black money, and muscle power, expressing confidence that his side would prevail in this fight.

The nomination submission comes amid broader political activities across Dhaka constituencies, with several parties finalizing their candidates for the upcoming election.

The 30th Dhaka International Trade Fair will begin on January 1 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center in Purbachal. Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus is scheduled to inaugurate the event. The announcement was made by Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman during a press conference held at the exhibition center on Monday afternoon.

According to the Commerce Secretary, this year’s fair has introduced online allocation for various categories of stalls and pavilions. Visitors will be able to purchase tickets both on-site and online, with entry facilitated through QR code scanning. The press conference was attended by Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Vice Chairman Hasan Arif, Additional Secretary (Export) of the Ministry of Commerce Abdur Rahim Khan, and EPB Director General Baby Rani Karmakar.

The fair marks a continuation of Bangladesh’s annual trade promotion efforts, with the new digital ticketing and stall allocation systems aimed at improving accessibility and management for participants and visitors.

Residents of war-torn Gaza are facing extreme hardship amid cold and hostile weather, according to Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). In a post on social media platform X, Lazzarini described worsening conditions with more rainfall, despair, and death, saying Palestinians are living in flooded tents and ruins while essential aid deliveries remain blocked. He added that UNRWA could greatly expand its relief efforts if restrictions on aid supplies were lifted.

Gaza authorities reported that nearly 200,000 prefabricated housing units are urgently needed to meet the humanitarian needs of displaced people affected by the severe weather. Winter storms have flooded thousands of tents across the region, with some blown away, further worsening the crisis. Recent months have seen Gazans struggling against harsh weather, building collapses, and flooding.

According to the report, since October 2023, Israeli military actions in Gaza have killed more than 71,200 people, mostly women and children, and injured over 171,200 others.

Mia Golam Parwar, Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami and the party’s candidate for Khulna-5 constituency, submitted his nomination papers to District Commissioner and Returning Officer A S M Jamshed Khondkar on Monday. Other Jamaat candidates also filed nominations in Khulna-1, Khulna-2, and Khulna-6 constituencies.

After submitting his papers, Parwar said the nation seeks change and that those who previously held power cannot bring it. He emphasized that a new coalition, now expanded to ten parties, could deliver the desired transformation. He called for immediate measures to address the deteriorating law and order situation and urged citizens to remain united to ensure a free and fair election, warning against any attempt to manipulate votes.

Parwar also defended the nomination of Hindu candidate Krishna Nandi in Khulna-1, stating that Jamaat’s politics is based on justice and good governance, not religion. He invited people of all faiths who share these values to join the party and urged a “yes” vote in the referendum on implementing the July Charter.

The Bogura district unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is renovating a long-unused office room at its Nawabbari Road headquarters for acting chairman Tarique Rahman. The room, which had remained unused for 17 years, is being prepared as Rahman is expected to contest from the Bogura Sadar constituency. Renovation work includes new flooring, tiles, fly board, and ceiling decoration. On Monday morning, five to six workers were seen working on the walls and ceiling, while doors were being cleaned for repainting.

Interior engineer Saikat, who is overseeing the project, said the room will feature two book shelves, a large table, and more than ten chairs. District BNP media cell official Rashedul Islam Rashed confirmed that the work is progressing quickly under the supervision of district president Rezaul Karim Badsha. Several local leaders, including MR Islam Swadhin and Sheikh Taha Uddin Nine, visited the site Sunday night.

The BNP district office houses various party wings, and the building regularly draws hundreds of activists, according to the report.

The chief coordinator of the BNP’s election management committee for Dhaka-17, Abdus Salam, submitted nomination papers on behalf of the party’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The submission took place around noon on Monday. Dr. Farhad Halim Donar was the proposer, and Advocate Alamgir Hossain was the supporter. Dhaka Metropolitan North BNP convener Aminul Islam and others were present during the submission.

After submitting the nomination, Abdus Salam told reporters that Tarique Rahman had been kept outside the country for 17 years and had faced oppression. He sought prayers for Rahman and expressed confidence that Rahman would win the seat by a large margin and work to resolve the current national crisis as head of government.

According to the election schedule, scrutiny of nomination papers will take place from December 30 to January 4, 2026. Appeals against returning officers’ decisions can be filed between January 5 and 9, with disposal from January 10 to 18. The final date for withdrawal of candidacy is January 20.

A midair collision between two helicopters near Hammonton Municipal Airport in New Jersey, United States, left one person dead and another critically injured, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration. The incident occurred around 11:25 a.m. local time, when the aircraft collided and caught fire. Police confirmed that both helicopters had only their pilots onboard.

Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel said the helicopters were flying very close to each other, which may have caused the collision. The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into the crash. A nearby café owner, Sal Silipino, said both pilots were regular customers at his café and often had breakfast together. He and other witnesses saw the helicopters take off before one began spiraling downward, followed by the other losing control.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the collision, with initial reports suggesting proximity during flight as a possible factor.

Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Chairman Chowdhury Ashiq Bin Harun stated that the return of BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman to the country serves as a confidence booster for investors. He made the comment in a post on his verified Facebook page on Sunday night, noting that the development signals progress toward a free and fair election, which he said is vital for an investment-friendly environment.

In the same post, Harun highlighted the recent completion of negotiations on the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), describing it as a major step for the country’s economic future. The agreement will provide duty-free access for 7,379 Bangladeshi products to Japan and 1,039 Japanese products to Bangladesh. It is expected to attract Japanese investment in sectors such as ICT, logistics, electronics, renewable energy, and agro-processing, while also enhancing employment and skills among Bangladeshi youth.

Harun added that the government is forming a specialized negotiation team to handle future trade agreements with countries like the United States, South Korea, and Turkey, aiming to strengthen Bangladesh’s trade capacity after LDC graduation.

The 8 Armed Police Battalion (APBn) conducted extensive operations across 11 Rohingya camps in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, over the past six months to maintain law and order. During nearly 200 special raids, 108 individuals were arrested in connection with 52 cases involving weapons, drugs, and other crimes. Authorities recovered a large cache of arms, ammunition, and narcotics, including submachine guns, pistols, one-shooter guns, and 175,068 yaba tablets, along with cash and other contraband.

According to APBn sources, the operations were carried out in camps under several police zones, including Panbazar, Moynarghona, and Hakimpara. Local representatives praised the continuous drives, noting improved security and reduced criminal activity in and around the camps. They emphasized the importance of sustaining such efforts to ensure community safety.

APBn commander Riaz Uddin Ahmed stated that the battalion is operating under a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, illegal arms, and drug trafficking. He pledged to continue coordinated operations with local authorities to prevent criminal networks from re-emerging in the camps.

North Korea has conducted a test of long-range cruise missiles under the direct supervision of its leader Kim Jong Un. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the missiles flew over the sea west of Pyongyang along designated trajectories and accurately hit their targets. Kim expressed satisfaction with the results and announced that the country would continue sustainable development of its nuclear capabilities.

KCNA did not specify the exact launch site. However, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported that its military detected multiple missile launches from the Sunan area near Pyongyang on Sunday morning. The report also suggested that North Korea might conduct additional missile tests before the end of the year.

Kim stated that regular testing of nuclear capabilities is necessary due to ongoing security threats. He emphasized that Pyongyang will persist in its efforts toward unlimited and sustainable advancement of nuclear strength.